Opposition, government spar over NEET debate in Rajya Sabha; House adjourned repeatedly

Published 22 July 2026 · local

Repeated adjournments paralysed the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) as the Opposition and the government fought over the rules governing

Repeated adjournments paralysed the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) as the Opposition and the government fought over the rules governing a discussion on the alleged Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) question paper leak. While the Opposition demanded a discussion under Rule 267, which requires the suspension of the day’s business, the Government said no conditions could be dictated. Also read |Parliament Monsoon Session Day 3 updates Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh read out a ruling that an adjournment motion could be taken up only in the “rarest of the rare” situations. The Opposition argued that the current situation qualified as the “rarest of the rare” and demanded a discussion under Rule 267, adding that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign before the debate. The House witnessed repeated sloganeering followed by multiple adjournments and did not take up any agenda during the day.

In the morning, Opposition MPs turned up wearing black attire. The House paid homage to the 20 people killed in an accident at an under-construction hydropower tunnel in Sikkim. Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan also informed the House about the indigenously developed hydrogen-powered train. Soon after the Chair’s announcements, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the police action against protesting students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday, and said it caused him “immense pain. As soon as he started speaking, BJP members raised slogans, prompting counter slogans by the Opposition members. As the ruckus continued, the Chairman adjourned the House until noon. When the House reassembled at 12 p.m., Mr. Kharge tried to raise the issue again, but sloganeering continued, forcing Deputy Chairman Harivansh to adjourn the House till 2 p.m. In the afternoon, the Upper House was adjourned till 3 p.m. and later for the day.

When the House met again at 2 p.m., Mr. Harivansh invited Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju to speak. Rijiju maintained that the government was ready to discuss all issues and criticised the Opposition for putting conditions on the debate. He said it was for the Chair to decide the rule under which the debate could happen. “The government has been saying since the beginning of the session... all important issues, including NEET paper leak, will be discussed,” he said. Kharge questioned this and reiterated that the discussion must happen under Rule 267 and that Mr. Pradhan’s resignation must precede the debate. He also tried to raise the issue of police action against protesters in Delhi, amid sloganeering by BJP MPs. Leader of the House J. P. Nadda accused the Opposition of destroying the dignity of Parliament through their “irresponsible behaviour”. He said Mr. Rijiju had made it clear that the Government was willing to discuss all issues, including the NEET paper leak.